The Joy List
How is life feeling for you, loves? Tell me the truth. One thing that seems to provide me with a needed boost is to reflect on what has been bringing me joy. I literally grab a pen and paper (yep…the good old fashioned way of making a list) and get to work. Happy work, it is! Wanna try it? If you missed my first joy list, don’t worry—I have got you covered here.
MARGI’S JOY LIST
1. My evening walks. My morning walks made it to my first joy list.—and they remain a solid staple. What is not to love about morning walks? You have the birds. The sun. A new beginning. My morning walks aren’t going anywhere. However, evening walks are solid too. They offer a stillness, a winding down to the day that is soothing and quieting. While the day feels expansive in the morning, the evening feels like the world is tucking in. The stars shine. There are fewer noises and distractions. I love seeing the lights of the neighborhood homes shine from the windows. When I arrive back home after an evening walk, I feel calm in a way that allows me to surrender to sleep at night with greater peace of mind.
2. My morning coffee(s). Yes, that is plural. I have the coffee that I regularly make at home, along with the “treat” version that we buy at a coffee shop just down the road. My current favorite coffee that I make at home is a mushroom coffee by Four Sigmatic. You can find it here. I add a little of my favorite oat milk creamer and SAVOR. It is delicious. Now on very special days…John and I may walk to a local coffee shop and order coffee “to go.” Heaven! We walk and sip and chat all the way home. That is more apt to happen on weekends. But during the week, John has been known to head out to work only to surprise me by returning to the house with my favorite coffee in hand! Isn’t he a keeper? Now that is the way to start the day right!
3. My hanging glass prism. My oldest child, Adrian gifted me a small hanging prism that hangs from one of my front windows. On sunny afternoons, as the light streams through my window—tiny rainbows appear all over my home. It is MAGIC every time.
4. This Instagram account on loss. Alessandra Olanow experienced the end of her marriage and the death of her mother within a short span of time. On her Instagram account, Olanow shares illustrations showing how it feels to navigate life and this world while feeling tremendous grief—and she does it with humor, piercing honesty, and hope. Her book, I Used to Have A Plan is an incredible resource for those who are currently working through grief (and that is pretty much all of us!).
5. This book. WOW. I realize I am a little late to the game on this one. But WOW. History has never felt so devastating and fascinating. I am reading and underlining each page deliberately. It is rare to read a nonfiction book that is this accessible. Truly. A must-read!
6. A simple salad recipe. When I say simple, I mean simple. Three main ingredients. Ready? Tiny mozzarella balls (found in the deli section with the specialty cheeses). Grape tomatoes. Chopped avocado. Measure out in a ratio that is pleasing to you. It is not rocket science. I usually halve the cheese balls and tomatoes too. Chop up some fresh cilantro. Drizzle with balsamic glaze. Sprinkle with Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning. Enjoy!
7. My current moisturizer and lip balm. My skin is dry, dry, dry. The air in Utah is also dry, dry, dry. That makes moisturizing a tough task for me. This moisturizer works everywhere. Face. Feet. Legs. Hands. It gets a green rating on the EWG Skin Deep site, as well as being one of the most recommended moisturizers by dermatologists. It is affordable too. How’s is that? Just a little gift from me to you! And lip balm? I should have a graduate degree in lip balms (and in natural deodorant too, for that matter!) This one works better than any of the pricier ones I have tried. If your lips are fine, you may want to skip this altogether. But when lips are dry, life is just not the same. While you can find Image Ormedic lip balm on Amazon, it will cost you a bit more. While I am not a regular Walmart shopper, the savings is real. I normally place an order once a year.
8. My weighted blanket. A few months ago, I bought a weighted blanket for myself. It is HEAVEN. Every night, I can’t wait to feel “the hug” that my blanket gives me! It never fails me. I am so grateful.
9. Short yoga sessions. I have been practicing yoga at home since last March and using YouTube accordingly. If I get too ambitious about yoga, I find I don’t practice at all. What do I mean by ambitious? If my intention is to practice for more than 15 minutes, then my mind will kick in and reject the idea. So I keep my intention small—ten minutes. Sometimes, it feels so good when I am on the mat, that I will extend my time. Bonus! Try this with any exercise that feels challenging for you to do and see how it works! This week, I practiced four times! Yoga is grounding for me. It loosens my body and my mind. It has been so nice to have it back in my days again.
10. My Calm app and Daily Trip episodes with Jeff Warren. I was “introduced” to Jeff Warren initially from his ‘How to Meditate” series on Calm. It was thirty days of learning about meditation and hearing beautiful insights (it is still available on the app). Since then, I have made an effort to find Jeff Warren where I can. Right now, I do my daily meditation and follow it up with another ten minutes with Jeff. I am never sorry.
11. Bonus JOY? Consider listening to this Mormon Stories interview with Amy McPhie Allebest about her new podcast, Breaking Down Patriarchy. Think of it as a book club and a podcast in one. Read the essential texts and then, listen to the accompanying podcast! Prepare for an incredible journey!
12. Bonus JOY? My magazine subscriptions. Simple but true. It is like Christmas every time one arrives in my mailbox. Vanity Fair, Real Simple, and Magnolia—-thank you for bringing happiness to my days! There are few things that make me happier than a fresh lunch in the sunshine with a magazine spread out before me. Does anyone else hear that?